Chapter 3: The School Had Another Document
“Mr. Bennett, are you still there?”” the attendance officer asked.
Darius held the phone tighter.
“Yes. You said there was another document.””
The kitchen seemed suddenly too quiet. Sunlight spilled across the white cabinets, catching the tears on Maya's cheeks. Behind them, the infant kicked his little feet beneath the light-blue blanket.
The attendance officer lowered her voice.
“We received a request to change the emergency contact information for Maya. It also asked us to restrict access to certain student records.””
Darius stared at Renee.
“Restrict access for whom?””
“For anyone not listed as an authorized guardian.””
“I'm her father.””
“Yes, sir. Your name was removed from the emergency contact section on the submitted form.””
Darius's face hardened.
“Who replaced me?””
The woman hesitated.
“Your wife, Renee Bennett, was listed as the primary contact.””
Renee shook her head violently.
Darius turned away from her.
“Did you verify these documents with me?””
“We attempted to call the number provided on the forms. We weren't able to reach you.””
“What number?””
The officer read it aloud.
Darius pulled his phone away from his ear and looked at the number displayed on his screen. It wasn't his.
“That isn't my phone number.””
“I understand, sir. That's why we didn't finalize the withdrawal. The signatures and contact information raised concerns, so our principal asked us to wait until we could speak directly with you.””
Darius exhaled slowly.
“Thank you. Please preserve every document you received. Don't change anything until I can come in and verify my identity.””
“Of course, Mr. Bennett.””
He ended the call.
Renee immediately stepped toward him.
“You're blowing this out of proportion.””
Darius placed his phone beside the withdrawal request.
“Who changed my number?””
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
“The school had a different number for me. They received a form removing me as Maya's contact. They received a request to withdraw her. And my signature is on both.””
Renee shook her head.
“I was trying to help.””
“Help whom?””
“The family!””
“By making me a stranger to my own child?””
Her lips pressed together.
Maya knelt beside her backpack and carefully unfolded the second sheet. Her small fingers struggled with the creases.
“Daddy, I found this yesterday.””
Darius took it gently.
At the top was a school form requesting a change to Maya's authorized pickup arrangements. Below the printed instructions were several names, phone numbers, and signatures.
One entry had been crossed out.
*AUTHORIZED PICKUP: DARIUS BENNETT*
Beneath it, in fresh handwriting, was another name.
Darius read it twice.
“Who is Marcus Reed?””
Renee's eyes widened.
Maya looked up at him.
“That's the man who came to school.””
Darius felt a cold sensation spread through his chest.
“What man?””
“He said you sent him to pick me up. But my teacher said she had to call you first, and she couldn't reach you.””
Renee moved toward the baby.
“This is getting out of hand.””
Darius held up his hand.
“Stay right there.””
“Don't speak to me like I'm a criminal!””
“Then give me a reason not to wonder why a stranger was sent to collect my daughter.””
“He was helping me!””
The words escaped before Renee could stop them.
Darius stared at her.
“Helping you do what?””
Renee's mouth tightened. She glanced at Maya, then at the school forms.
“He was supposed to help with transportation. That's all.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because you question everything I do!””
“Apparently, I haven't questioned enough.””
Maya moved closer to her father.
“Daddy, I didn't go with him.””
Darius immediately turned toward her.
“You did the right thing.””
“He told me you were waiting somewhere else. He said you wanted me to come with him, but I didn't know him.””
“You were right not to leave with someone you didn't recognize,” Darius said.
“You never have to go anywhere with someone just because they say I sent them. You can always ask a trusted teacher to call me using the number they already have on file.””
Maya nodded, fresh tears gathering in her eyes.
Renee picked up the baby and rocked him impatiently.
“He didn't do anything wrong. You're making him sound dangerous.””
Darius looked at the form again.
“I'm going to find out exactly who he is and why his name was added to my daughter's records.””
He photographed both documents and placed the originals carefully on the island.
Then he turned to Maya.
“Is there anything else you haven't shown me?””
Maya hesitated.
Her gaze drifted toward the living room, where Darius's work bag sat beside the sofa.
Renee noticed.
“Maya, don't you dare.””
Darius's head snapped toward her.
“What is she supposed to be hiding?””
“Nothing,” Renee said quickly.
“She's upset and confused.””
Maya wiped her cheeks.
“Daddy, she told me there was a secret.””
Darius crouched beside her.
“What secret?””
Maya pointed toward his work bag.
“She said if you ever found out about the school papers, everything would be ruined.””
Renee's face drained of color.
Darius walked into the connected living room, retrieved his bag, and brought it back to the kitchen island.
“Renee,” he said quietly, “what else have you signed with my name?””
She backed away from the counter.
“I haven't signed anything else.””
Maya stared at the bag.
“Yes, you did.””
Darius slowly opened the front compartment.
Inside, beneath his work notebook, lay a thick envelope bearing his full legal name.
And when he turned it over, he saw a return address belonging to a law office he had never contacted.
Renee whispered one word.
“Darius…”
He slid a finger beneath the envelope's sealed flap.
“Tell me why a lawyer is sending me documents I know nothing about.””
May you like
Renee took a shaky breath.
Then the baby began to cry, and she looked at the envelope as though she already knew exactly what was inside.
